Swapping characters on the field and individual character field skills?

[Cao Jin 0]

Hi Everyone!

Firstly i'm hoping this is on the right board (seemed most appropriate) and if not please let me know and i'll delete and repost there.

I am attempting to make a game about three prisoners escaping a tower, my idea is to have each of them able to interact with the environment in different ways, i.e. the warrior exclusively being able to move heavy blocks and levers etc, rogue being able to pick locks and hook shot onto higher ground and the mage being able to interact with the magical devices strewn across the architecture, stereotypical i know but as a proof of concept I wanted something to be able to wrap my head around for more detailed use for later.

I'm so far hitting a couple of snags with this idea;
First- I cant find any way to switch the active member of the party (think breath of fire 3,4 and 5) aside from changing character graphic (which is not what I want as I intend to have followers on).

Second- Having trouble with finding ways to lock events to occur when a specific actor interacts with it, (not even sure if this is possible). I was thinking of having most skills useable from the menu (e.g. pick lock, grapple hook, Magic Spells), but the idea of going into a menu to move an event one space per time would fast get tedious, my thought being if the warrior was selected he can just move the item by walking into it or pressing a button on it.

Has anyone on this site tackled similar issues before? are there any tips, solutions or alternatives you guys have employed instead?
Thank you for your time!

CaoJin

[Lord Vectra 414]

Player can change formation on menu. If you don't have all 3 at the same time(in the party), then this is what you do.

 

Set a condition branch of button X being press

Note (R, Z, L, Y, X) which translates to (W, D, Q, S, A on keyboard)

 

If variable = 0

If button R being pressed

(Take away party member1)

(add a party member2)

v(variable) = 1

 

end

If variable = 1

If button R being pressed

(Take away party member2)

(add a party member3)

v(variable) = 2

 

end

If variable = 2

If button R being pressed

(Take away party member3)

(add a party member1)

v(variable) = 0

 

end

wait: 5 frame(s)(MUST BE HERE)

 

Same goes if you have them all but you want it to be quicker.

Take out all you don't want, keep the one you do want, and then add the ones you didn't want again. This would make the one you do want, the leader or whatnot.

 

Need me to explain more or a lil differently?

[Cao Jin 0]

Wow! thanks for the fast reply Vectra!
this could be a pretty good workaround, I never thought of conditional branches! the idea is to have all three characters in the party so this should work.
I'll give it a shot regardless!

This idea may also answer my second issue (i.e. to avoid anyone who is not the warrior moving heavy items etc)
your idea brings a possibility of a switch linked to the party member number variable, possibly have the heavy item's event page have a second page that activates when a switch is activated due to the variable changing to the corresponding number. this second page has the movement setting of "away from player" rather than "fixed". 

will give it a shot, thanks a bunch for the help!!
 

[Lord Vectra 414]

No problem

[Tsarmina 2,612]

Hime has a script for this too that looks beautiful.

 

Moving to Engine Support.